1 Kings 6

 

God makes our hearts His home

 

1 Now in the 480th year after the children of Israel came out of the land of Egypt, in the fourth year of Solomon’s reign over Israel, in the month Zif, which is the second month, that he began to build the house of the LORD. 2 And the house that king Solomon built for the LORD was 90 feet long, 30 feet wide, and 45 feet high.

 

  • God had given King David the pattern for this house just like He gave Moses the pattern for the tabernacle (1 Chronicles 28:19).
  • We build an eternal house for God in our hearts with His holy word (Acts 20:32).
  • 1Corinthians 6:19 What? Do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit which is in you, which you have of God, and you are not your own?
  • Ephesians 3:17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; 19 And to know the love of Christ, which passes knowledge, that you might be filled with all the fullness of God.

 

3 The porch at the front of the Temple was 30 feet wide, running across the entire width of the Temple. It projected outward 15 feet from the front of the Temple. 4 And in the house he made windows of narrow lights. 5 A complex of rooms was built against the outer walls of the Temple, all the way around the sides and rear of the building. 6 The lowest story was seven and a half feet wide, and the middle was nine feet wide, and the third was ten and a half feet wide: around in the wall of the house he made insets all around so that the beams would not be fastened into the walls of the house. 7 And the house, when it was being built, was built of stone that was prepared before it was brought there so that there was no hammer or axe or any tool of iron heard in the house while it was being built.

 

  • Ephesians 2:20 And are built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;

 

8 The door for the middle chamber was in the right side of the house: and they went up with winding stairs into the middle chamber, and out of the middle into the third. 9 So he built the house, and finished it; and covered the house with beams and boards of cedar. 10 Then a complex of rooms on three sides of the building was attached to the Temple walls by cedar timbers. Each story of the complex was 7 1/2 feet high.

 

  • Christ is the door to eternal life.
  • John 10:9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he will be saved, and will go in and out, and find pasture.

 

12 And the word of the LORD came to Solomon saying, 12 Regarding this house that you are building, if you will walk in my statutes, execute my judgments, and keep all my commandments to walk in them; then I will do my word with you that I spoke to David your father: 13 And I will dwell among the children of Israel, and will not forsake my people Israel.

 

  • Revelation 7:15 are they are before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sits on the throne will dwell among them.
  • Hebrews 13:5 Let your way of life be without covetousness; and be content with what things you have: for he has said, I will never leave you, or forsake you.

 

14 So Solomon built the house and finished it. 15 He built the walls of the house inside with boards of cedar, both the floor of the house and the walls and the ceiling: and he covered them on the inside with wood, and covered the floor of the house with planks of fir. 16 He partitioned off an inner sanctuary—the Most Holy Place—at the far end of the Temple. It was 30 feet deep and was paneled with cedar from floor to ceiling. 17 The main room of the Temple, outside the Most Holy Place, was 60 feet long. 18 And the cedar of the house inside was carved with gourds and open flowers: all was cedar; no stone was seen. 19 And he prepared the inner sanctuary in the house inside, to set in it the ark of the covenant of the LORD. 20 And the front of the inner sanctuary was thirty feet long, thirty feet wide, and thirty feet high: he overlaid it with pure gold, and also overlaid the altar that was of cedar.

 

  • All of the temple and its furnishings were visual aids to teach people truths about God.
  • The Ark of the Covenant was wood overlaid with gold.
  • The wood represented the humanity of Christ and the gold represented the deity of Christ.
  • Blood was placed on the mercy seat on top of the Ark of the Covenant that represented Christ’s death to cover our sins.

 

He is of the greatest value

 

21 So Solomon overlaid the house inside with pure gold: and he made a partition of the chains of gold before the inner sanctuary; and he overlaid it with gold. 22 He overlaid the whole house with gold, until he had finished all the house: also, he overlaid with gold the whole altar that was by the inner sanctuary. 23 And inside the inner sanctuary he made two cherubims of olive tree, each fifteen feet high. 24 The wingspan of the one cherub was seven and a half feet, and the wingspan of the other cherub was seven and a half feet: from the furthest part of the one wing to the furthest part of the other were fifteen feet. 25 And the other cherub was fifteen feet: both cherubim were of one measure and one size.

 

  • Gold was a symbol of deity because it is of the greatest value among metals.
  • But it is just metal.
  • Can we calculate the value of One who is smart enough and powerful enough to create the universe?
  • Can we calculate the value of life?
  • Can we calculate the value of One who loves us enough to die for us?
  • 1Peter 1:18 For you know that you were not redeemed with corruptible things likes silver and gold, from your vain way of life received by tradition from your fathers; 19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.

 

26 The height of the one cherub was fifteen feet, and the other cherub was the same. 27 And he set the cherubim inside the inner house: and they stretched out the wings of the cherubim, so that the wing of one touched one wall, and the wing of the other cherub touched the other wall; and their wings touched one another in the midst of the house. 28 And he overlaid the cherubims with gold.

 

  • Ezekiel 1 describes in detail these heavenly beings called cherubim.

 

29 He carved all the walls of the house round about with carved figures of cherubim, palm trees, and open flowers, inside and outside. 30 And he overlaid the floor of the house with gold, inside and outside. 31 And he made doors of olive tree for the entrance of the inner sanctuary: the lintel and side posts were a fifth part of the wall. 32 The two doors were also of olive tree; and he carved on them carvings of cherubim, palm trees, and open flowers, and overlaid them with gold, and spread gold on the cherubims, and on the palm trees. 33 He also made the side posts for the entrance of the temple of olive tree, a fourth part of the wall. 34 The two doors were of juniper wood: the two leaves of the one door were folding, and the two leaves of the other door were folding. 35 And he carved on them cherubim, palm trees, and open flowers: and covered them with gold evenly fitted on the carved work. 36 And he built the inner court with three rows of cut stone, and a row of cedar beams. 37 In the fourth year the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid, in the month Zif: 38 And in the eleventh year, in the month Bul, which is the eighth month, the house was finished throughout all its parts, according to all its design. So he built it in seven years.

 

  • Revelation 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hears my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will feast with him, and he with me.
  • Psalm 23:6 Goodness and mercy will definitely follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

 

                                               1 Kings 7

 

1 But Solomon was building his own house thirteen years, and he finished all his house. 2 He built also the house of the forest of Lebanon; it was 150 feet long, 75 feet wide, and 45 feet high, on four rows of cedar pillars, with cedar beams on the pillars. 3 It was covered with cedar above on the beams that lay on forty-five pillars, fifteen in a row. 4 And there were windows in three rows, and light was facing light in three rows. 5 All the doors and posts were square, with the windows: light was facing light in three rows. 6 And he made a hall of pillars; it was 75 feet long and 45 feet wide: and the porch was in front, covered by a canopy supported by pillars.

 

  • Solomon’s house was bigger than God’s house. He had two houses, bigger than God’s one house (I Kings 6).

God will judge all men

 

7 Then he made the hall of the throne to judge, the hall of judgment: it was covered with cedar from one side of the floor to the other.

 

  • 2Corinthians 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to what he has done, whether it is good or bad.
  • Psalm 96:13… for he comes to judge the earth: he will judge the world with righteousness, and the people with his truth.

 

8 And his house where he dwelt had another court inside the porch which was of the same work. Solomon also made a house for Pharaoh’s daughter, whom he had taken as a wife, like this hall. 9 All these were of costly stones, according to the measures of cut stones, sawn with saws, inside and out, from the foundation to the roof, and also on the outside toward the great court. 10 The foundation was of costly stones, great stones, stones of fifteen feet, and stones of twelve feet. 11 These were costly stones, according to the measures of cut stones, and cedars. 12 And the great court round about was with three rows of cut stones, and a row of cedar beams, both for the inner court of the house of the LORD, and for the porch of the house.

 

  • Isaiah 54:11O afflicted, tossed with tempest, and not comforted, behold, I will lay your stones with fair colors, and lay your foundations with sapphires.

 

13 And king Solomon sent and brought Hiram out of Tyre. 14 He was a widow’s son of the tribe of Naphtali, and his father was a man of Tyre, a worker in brass: he was filled with wisdom, and understanding, and skilled to work all works of brass. And he came to king Solomon, and did all his work. 15 He cast two pillars of brass, each 27 feet high and 18 feet in circumference. 16 And he made two capitals of molten brass to set on the tops of the pillars: the height of the one capital was 7 1/2 feet, and the height of the other capital was 7 1/2 feet: 17 Each capital was decorated with seven sets of latticework and interwoven chains. 18 He also made two rows of pomegranates that encircled the latticework to decorate the capitals over each pillars. 19 The capitals on the columns inside the foyer were shaped like lilies, and they were 6 feet tall. 20 Each capital on the two pillars had two hundred pomegranates in two rows around them, beside the rounded surface next to the latticework. 21 And he set up the pillars in the porch of the temple: he set up the right pillar, and called its name Jachin: and he set up the left pillar, and called its name Boaz. 22 And lily work was on the top of the pillars: so the work of the pillars was finished.

 

  • Jachin means ‘He will establish.’ Boaz means ‘In it is strength.’
  • Revelation 3:12 Him that overcomes I will make a pillar in the temple of my God…

 

23 And he made a molten sea, 15 feet cross from the one rim to the other: it was round and 7 1/2 feet high and 45 feet around it. 24 And under its rim all around were two rows of gourds surrounding the sea: the gourds were cast as part of the tank. 25 It stood on twelve oxen, three looking toward the north, three looking toward the west, three looking toward the south, and three looking toward the east: and the sea was set above upon them, and all their rear parts were inward. 26 The walls of the Sea were about three inches thick, and its rim flared out like a cup and resembled a lily blossom. It held about 11,000 gallons of water.

 

  • The oxen represent the twelve tribes of Israel as God’s servant.
  • This ‘sea’ was for the cleansing of the priests as they served the LORD in His house.
  • The temple of God was for the cleansing of hearts so that they may dwell in His presence forever.

 

27 And he made ten bases of brass; each was 6 feet long, 6 feet wide and 4 1/2 feet tall. 28 The work of the bases was this way: they had side panels braced with crossbars: 29 And on the panels between the crossbars were lions, oxen, and cherubims: and on the panels was a base above: and beneath the lions and oxen were wreath decorations. 30 Every base had four brass wheels and axles of brass: with supports in each of its four corners: under the basin were cast supports, at the sides of each, wreaths. 31 The top of each cart had a circular frame for the basin 1 1/2 feet above the cart like around pedestal, 2 1/4 feet: and on its mouth were carvings of wreaths. Their panels were square, not round. 32 Under the panels were four wheels that connected to axles that had been cast as one unit with the cart. The wheels were 2 1/4 feet in diameter, 33 and were similar to chariot wheels. The axles, spokes, rims, and hubs were all cast from molten bronze:

 

  • The bronze was melted and poured into molds to make these parts.

 

34 There were supports at each of the four corners of the carts, and these, too, were cast as one unit with the cart. 35 Around the top of each cart there was a rim 9 inches wide. The supports and side panels were cast as one unit with the cart. 36 And on the panels and supports he carved cherubims, lions, and palm trees, according to the proportion of every one, with wreaths all around. 37 He made ten stands just like this: all of them had one casting, one measure, and one size. 38 Huram also made ten bronze basins, one for each cart. Each basin was 6 feet across and could hold 220 gallons of water. 39 And he put five bases on the right side of the house, and five on the left side of the house: and he set the sea on the right side of the house eastward over against the south.

 

God’s house was finished

 

40 And Hiram made the pots, the shovels, and the basins. So Hiram finished doing all the work that he made king Solomon for the house of the LORD: 41 The two pillars with the two bowls of the capitals that were on the top of the two pillars; and the two lattice works, to cover the two bowls of the capitals which were on the top of the pillars; 42 And four hundred pomegranates for the two gratings, two rows of pomegranates for one grating to cover the two bowls of the capitals that were on the pillars; 43 the ten bases, and ten basins on the bases; 44 One sea, and twelve oxen under the sea; 45 the pots, the shovels, and the basins: all these vessels, which Hiram made for king Solomon for the house of the LORD, were of bright brass. 46 The king cast them in the plain of Jordan, in the clay ground between Succoth and Zarthan. 47 And Solomon left all the vessels unweighed, because they were exceedingly many: neither was the weight of the brass determined.

 

  • Our generation is blessed to have the written Bible.
  • Throughout much of history the common people did not have Bibles.
  • The temple and the things in it all taught the world about God.
  • At a time in history when men traveled on foot, donkey, or camel, at a time in history when man grew his own food from the ground, a time of no cars or airplanes, no photography or TV sets, people came to God’s temple to learn about God and to worship Him.
  • The temple was simple and exquisitely beautiful. A house of gold, encrusted with jewels.
  • The ceremonies taught the way into sacred presence of God. And God was there.
  • James 4:8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.

 

 

48 Solomon made all the vessels that belonged to the house of the LORD: the altar of gold, the table of gold where the showbread was, 49 and the candlesticks of pure gold, five on the right side, and five on the left, before the holy of holies, with the flowers, the lamps, and the tongs of gold, 50 the bowls, the snuffers, the basins, the spoons, and the ash pans of pure gold; the hinges of gold, both for the doors of the inner house, the most holy place, and for the doors of the house, that is, of the temple. 51 So all the work that king Solomon made for the house of the LORD was completed. And Solomon brought in the sanctified things of his father David; the silver, and the gold, and the vessels, he put them among the treasures of the house of the LORD.

 

  • The ‘showbread’ was the ‘bread of the face of His presence.’
  • God’s presence is food for our hearts.
  • He is the light of the world.
  • This treasure that David dedicated to the house of the LORD also became eternal treasure for David.
  • By giving the silver and gold to God for the work at His house, David made a deposit into eternal accounts.
  • Matthew 6:19 Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust corrupts, and where thieves break through and steal: 20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust corrupts, and where thieves do not break through or steal: 21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
  • John 6:35 And Jesus said to them, I am the bread of life: he that comes to me will never hunger; and he that believes on me will never thirst.
  • Psalm 16:11 You will show me the path of life: in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand there are pleasures for evermore.
  • John 8:12 Then spoke Jesus again to them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.

 

 

 

 

SUMMARY: I Kings 6-7

 

  • He  makes our hearts His home
  • He is of the greatest value
  • He will judge all men
  • His house was finished